Monday, November 28, 2011

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) has offered protesting coconut farmers from Quezon solidarity and an overnight stay at its protest camp at NAIA Terminal 2.

The coconut farmers have embarked on 160-kilometer march from LucenaCityin Quezon to Manila to demand the return to farmers of billions of pesos in allegedly stolen coconut levy funds collected during the martial law years.

The march, which started on Thursday with some 100 farmers, is expected to arrive at PALEA’s protest camp before 6:00 PM.A solidarity human chain with PALEA will be held upon their arrival at the protest camp.

“We wish to welcome our coconut farmers to our protest camp.Since we occupied this place on September 27, this camp has become our protest camp, the protest camp of the 99% who are fighting for social justice,” said PALEA president Gerry Rivera.

Rivera said coconut farmers and PALEA members share a common struggle against government neglect as well as the capitalist greed of the country’s two most famous Marcos cronies, Lucio Tan and Danding Cojuangco.

“Coconut farmers were denied a share from their own coco levy fund.PALEA members on the other hand were denied the right to live a life of dignity when they rejected Lucio Tan’s contractualization plan,” added Rivera.

PALEA had been occupying PAL’s In-Flight Center along
MIA Road for two months after they were locked out by the management on October 1.Rivera said they will not give up the camp until the PAL outsourcing plan is scrapped and PALEA members win their regular jobs back.

Labor and peasant groups are expected to join forces for the November 30 (Bonifacio Day) rallies. After a noon rally at Mendiola on November 30, the protesters will hold a motorcade to the PALEA protest camp for another program and mass outside the PAL In-Flight Center.

Friday, November 25, 2011

The Washington DC-based group International Labor Rights Forum (ILRF) yesterday led the global call for a boycott of Lucio Tan-owned Philippine Airlines (PAL) and Air Philippines (AirPhil) in support of the embattled Philippine Airlines Employees Association. ILRF is an advocacy organization dedicated to achieving just and humane treatment for workers worldwide.

ILRF is calling on its network of labor groups, civil society organizations and the general public to boycott PAL and AirPhil until the locked-out PALEA members are reinstated to their regular jobs. “We welcome the boycott call as a form of solidarity for PALEA. It will put pressure on PAL and the government which both remain deaf to the demands and plight of PAL employees. The unity of the 99% both here and abroad will be the key to winning the fight against the outsourcing scheme of Lucio Tan who represents the 1%,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa.

The launch of the global call was timed for the start of the peak season for airline travel and PAL’s announced return to normal operations yesterday. PALEA however disputes PAL’s claims and cited recent several hours and days of delays in international flights as indicators. Rivera also asked the media investigate the results of the recently concluded US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) audit of PAL. “The results of the audit will serve to validate PALEA’s assertions that the outsourcing scheme is a failure, and that safety and service has been compromised by the untrained and overworked scabs that are now operating the flights,” he added.

ILRF is running on its website an online petition for the boycott of PAL and AirPhil (http://action.laborrights.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=3183). Once the petition is signed, messages of concern about PALEA will be sent to President Benigno Aquino III, Labor Secretary Rosalinda Baldoz, Tourism Secretary Ramon Jimenez, Jr. and PAL CEO Jaime Bautista. ILRF has also sent by email notices about the boycott campaign to thousands in its mailing list.

In its mass mailing, ILRF argues that “We know that the airlines cannot withstand a boycott. PAL and AirPhil rely on end-of-year holidays travel for their profit line. If a large enough group of us join the boycott publicly, we will have an impact.”

In response to the ILRF boycott appeal, the global union International Transport Workers Federation has forwarded a similar call with a link to the ILRF petition so recipients can sign up. The largest trade union portal in the world, Labourstart (http://labourstart.org/), has also posted an article on its site with a link to the boycott petition.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Members of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) will troop to the Pasay Hall of Justice this afternoon in support of several colleagues who are charged in a civil case filed by Philippine Airlines. Judge Racquelen Vasquez of Pasay Regional Trial Court Branch 116 will hear at 2:00 p.m. today PAL’s complaint in which they ask for the dismantling of the protest camp.

Today’s protest also coincides with the resumption of normal operations by PAL as per its announcement yesterday. PALEA however disputes this claim and disparages it as a “praise release.” Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and Partido ng Manggagawa vice chair, “PAL’s operations remain abnormal as exposed by the 3-day delay in a Los Angeles-Manila flight last November 17 and another seven-hour delay in a Manila-Bangkok flight last Sunday. But these are just the tip of the iceberg as most of the flight issues are unreported by the media or covered up.”

“We suggest that the media investigate the results of the recently concluded US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) audit of PAL as an indicator of the alleged normalization of operations. A third-party audit such as the FAA’s is an objective guide rather than PAL’s self-serving claims. The results of the audit will serve to validate PALEA’s assertions that the outsourcing scheme is a failure, and that safety and service has been compromised by the untrained and overworked scabs that are now operating the flights,” Rivera added.

Meanwhile PALEA remains confident that the civil case being heard by Judge Vasquez will be dismissed. “PALEA’s protest camp arose out of the labor dispute between PAL and PALEA and thus jurisdiction properly resides in the labor no civil courts. In any case, a picketline or campout is an activity allowed by law. What is illegal is the forcible and violent dispersal of a picketline as what was attempted last October 29 by hired goons,” Rivera explained.

Seven PALEA members were injured in the daybreak attack while one of the paid goons was apprehended and confessed to the police that they were hired by management for P200.

The afternoon rally by PALEA is likewise a buildup activity for the coming November 30 protest by labor groups. Thousands of workers are expected to lead the commemoration of Bonifacio Day with a mobilization at Mendiola followed by a motorcade to the PALEA protest camp. On Saturday, a pre-November 30 concert will be held at the campout to be emceed by concerned artist and TV personality Tado Jimenez.

DETAILS:The PALEA rally is timed for the Regional Trial Court’s hearing of the PAL civil case calling for the dismantling of the protest camp outside the In-Flight Center. The protest is also part of PALEA’s continuing vigilance against renewed threats to the camp out.

The protest also coincides with the announcement by PAL that it resumes full operations tomorrow. PALEA however insists that operations remain abnormal as revealed by recently reported incidences of a three-day delay in a Los Angeles-Manila flight and seven-hour delay in a Manila-Bangkok flight.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

The Partido ng Mangagawa (PM) today said it is the 99% and not former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo who are the real victims of tyranny and injustice in this country. Members of PM and the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) held a 2:00 p.m. rally at the Our Lady of the Airways Parish at the corner of Sucat Road and MIA Road to air their sentiments on the alleged escape of the Arroyos.

“Gloria was merely banned from leaving the country for a while, whereas thousands of PAL workers and several millions of contractuals, unemployed and underemployed out there are being denied the right to live decent lives,” stated PALEA president and PM vice chair Gerry Rivera.

Renato Magtubo, PM national chair, agreed with the position of DoJ Secretary Leila De Lima in invoking a judicial process available to all, in this case a motion for reconsideration, to take its course before Gloria is finally allowed to travel and seek medical treatment abroad. He said that “The Pinoy Bonnie and Clyde should not be allowed to escape from facing cases of stealing, cheating and lying. They will not get any sympathy from oppressed workers in their attempt to fly out of the country and out of reach of justice.”

“As to PAL’s implementation of its outsourcing plan we stand by our position that outsourcing should not be implemented while the case remains pending before the Court of Appeals,” said Rivera.

Unfortunately thousands of PAL workers were thrown out of work since October 1, 2011 when De Lima’s boss, President Benigno Aquino, allowed Lucio Tan to proceed in firing 2,600 its regular employees and outsource their jobs to third party service providers in clear violation of the Constitution, the Labor Code and international conventions.

The only difference between the two cases, Magtubo added, is that PAL’s outsourcing was motivated by corporate greed while Gloria’s bid was a desperate attempt to escape looming imprisonment.

“Indeed, the country’s justice system is more ill than the ailing Gloria,” concluded Magtubo.

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) picketed the Qantas office and Australian embassy in a show of solidarity for the embattled workers of the Australian flag carrier. “We extend the hand of solidarity to our brothers and sisters at Qantas who are for fighting for job security, decent pay and better working conditions. The struggles they are waging mirror the same demands that we are currently fighting for at PAL,” declared Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa.

Members of PALEA picketed the Qantas office at a building in Paseo de Roxas in LegaspiVillage, Makati by 11:00 a.m. After holding a short program and chanting slogans in support of Qantas workers, the group then proceeded to the Australian embassy in the RCBCPlaza along Ayala Ave.

The picket is in response to the Global Day of Action for Qantas employees who are facing an intransigent management bent on outsourcing and union busting. The International Transport Workers Federation, a global union federation of some 5 million workers in 155 countries, called the day of action.

Earlier today, PALEA joined Fr. Robert Reyes and other groups in a prayer rally at the Supreme Court in protest at the temporary restraining order issued against the hold order against former President Gloria Arroyo and her husband Mike Arroyo. “The Arroyos are not getting any sympathy from workers in their attempt to escape the cases of plunder and electoral fraud. It is not the Arroyos but the workers, the 99%, who are victims of injustice by the government,” Rivera explained.

In Makati, the PALEA protesters shouted “Ang laban ng Qantas ay laban ng PALEA. We are all Qantas workers.” Rivera explained that “PALEA condemns the drive by Qantas to slash labor costs, undercut labor standards and weaken job security, all in the name of competitiveness. This is a mere myth as Qantas top management has taken salary hikes while forcing sacrifices on workers.”

The Australian labor court lifted the unprecedented Qantas lockout last October 29 and gave the three Qantas unions and management 21 days to negotiate an agreement before the issue is submitted for arbitration. “The global day of action will give the Qantas unions leverage in its bargaining with management. We are saying to Qantas that the workers of the world are supporting their employees in their demands for pay and job security guarantees,” Rivera argued.

The Qantas union Australian Licenced Aircraft Engineers Association (ALAEA) had expressed solidarity for PALEA after some 2,400 its members were retrenched as part of a controversial outsourcing scheme that has been slammed as “a bid to demolish job security and also bust the union.”

Saturday, November 12, 2011

A member of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) who was refused boarding by Philippine Airlines (PAL) for allegedly being on a “blacklist” of protesting employees, returned from the United States today and vowed to rejoin the fight against contractualization. Belle Savellano and her family arrived from Taipei on an Eva Airways flight around noon today. Last November 6, PAL denied to fly Savellano and six members of her family despite holding tickets for the Los Angeles-Manila flight.

“It is good to be back home even after the petty persecution I experienced at the hands of PAL. My husband and children who should have been at work and school early this week, and even my 80-year mother suffered from PAL’s harassment of its protesting employees,” stated Savellano.

Meanwhile PALEA welcomed Savellano back to the protest. “Belle will be warmly received by her PALEA colleagues in the protest camp. Unfortunately, further harassment awaits Belle as the threat to disperse the campout continues to this day. A few days ago, PAL filed criminal charges against the PALEA 41 just to bully them into accepting the separation package and applying as contractuals in the service providers,” said Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).

Yesterday the PALEA campout was the scene of renewed tension as a firetruck and scores of police accompanied a shuttle bus of PAL that went inside the In-Flight Center (IFC). But no untoward incident happened as PALEA members simply watched the bus arrive and depart from the compound.

PALEA has been questioning PAL’s insistence in operating the IFC since its in-flight catering and airport services have already been closed down. Rivera asserts that “Evidently PAL will allow Sky Logistics and Sky Kitchen use of the IFC which means the service providers are nothing but illegal labor-only contractors.”

Representatives from PM-USA and Filipino-American groups BANTAY Pilipinas-Los Angeles, AlliancePhilippines and Echo Park Community Coalition earlier called on the public especially Filipino-Americans to boycott PAL as the groups condemned the harassment tactics of the company against PALEA members.

Savellano, a PALEA member who worked for PAL for more than 28 years, is one of some 2,400 employees locked out after PALEA’s protest last September 27. Savellano and family flew to the US on October 19 to visit their relatives in San Diego using her employee travel benefit that was approved before the lock out. On October 23, PAL issued a memo that renders Savellano’s return ticket useless.

The Fil-Am groups vowed to increase its efforts to campaign for the boycott of PAL until the flag carrier has heeded the demands of PALEA for the return to their regular jobs. They believe that the fight against corporate greed is exemplified in the struggle of PALEA. They jointly declared that “The oppression of PALEA is a reflection of the plight of ordinary workers all over the world. We have to fight back as we are all PALEAns!”

Thursday, November 10, 2011

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) declared that the criminal charges filed by Philippine Airlines (PAL) against 41 of its members are just part of the continuing harassment of its peaceful protest camp. “PAL is using the courts to bully our members in to submission. The filing of charges left and right is meant to coerce PALEA members to avail of separation package and to apply as contractuals in Sky Logistics and Sky Kitchen which are gravely in need of the trained expertise of these workers,” announced Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa.

PALEA is confident that similar to the dismissal of PAL’s motion for a temporary restraining order against the campout by Pasay Judge Maria Rosario Ragasa, the criminal charges will also be found without merit. “All the incidents at the protest camp arose out of and involve the labor dispute between PAL and PALEA and thus jurisdiction properly resides in the National Labor Relations Commission or the Labor Department,” Rivera explained.

He argued that “The big question is: Why is PAL trying to operate the In-Flight Center (IFC) when its in-flight catering and airport services have already been closed down? Evidently PAL will allow Sky Logistics and Sky Kitchen use of the IFC which means the service providers are nothing but illegal labor-only contractors.”

Rivera also described the incident involving the PAL truck that attempted to leave the PAL In-Flight Center last October 29 as “a diversionary tactic while hired goons attacked the protest camp.” Rivera added that “The PAL truck tried to leave the compound accompanied by a phalanx of security guard in full riot gear. But despite their overwhelming number vis-avis a handful of PALEA members, the PAL guards retreated when the attack on the other end of the protest camp was already proceeding.”

He recounted that “At around 5:45 am, some 40 hired goons attacked the PALEA protest camp while women and children were still sleeping. Armed with long sticks and stones, the goons destroyed tents in half of the campout and injured seven PALEA members in the violent daybreak. One of the goons was apprehended and confessed in a sworn testimony to the police that they were paid by management. In a new outsourcing scheme, PAL had employed the services of a goons-provider to undertake the dispersal attempt.”

PALEA is asking the public to “Look at the complete picture. Be a critical judge.”

A member of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) is crying harassment by Philippine Airlines (PAL) for being refused boarding on a flight back to Manila from Los Angeles. Belle Savellano, PALEA members and PAL employee for 28 years, was not allowed to board the PAL LAX-MNL flight last November 6 for being allegedly on “blacklist of PALEA members.”

“We need to go back to the Philippines since my husband should have gone back to work last November 8 and my children also should have started school on the same day. Also my 80-year mother wants to be reunited with her relatives. My family is suffering because of what PAL is doing,” Savellano explained.

Ian Seruelo, liaison officer of PM-USA who is assisting Savellano in her fight, asserted that “We believe this petty persecution is meant to force Savellano to accept the separation offer and sign up for the service provider which is desperately in need of skilled and experienced workers from PALEA. But Savellano refuses to be a scab and is one with the 2,000 PALEA members who have defied the outsourcing plan.”

Seruelo together with representatives of Filipino-American groups BANTAY Pilipinas-Los Angeles, AlliancePhilippines and Echo Park Community Coalition accompanied Savellano to the Los Angeles airport last Sunday. The groups also issued an appeal for Filipino-Americans to boycott PAL.

Savellano and family flew to the US on October 19 to visit their relatives in San Diego using her employee travel benefit that was approved before the lock out. On October 23, PAL supposedly issued an “internal memo” that renders Savellano’s return ticket useless.

“We condemn the violence and other harassment tactics employed by PAL against PALEA. Last October 29, goons hired by PAL attacked the PALEA protest camp. Now, PAL issued a memo unjustly rescinding the earned travel benefits of these employees. Clearly all of these are meant to harass protesting workers. We call on the public to continue supporting the struggle of PALEA for decent jobs,” Seruelo insisted.

The Fil-Am groups vowed to increase its efforts to campaign for the boycott of PAL until the flag carrier has heeded the demands of PALEA for the return to their regular jobs. They believe that the fight against corporate greed is exemplified in the struggle of PALEA. They jointly declared that “The oppression of PALEA is a reflection of the plight of ordinary workers all over the world. We have to fight back as we are all PALEAns!”

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) called on the House of Representatives Labor Committee (LaborCom) to investigate the daybreak attack by alleged hired goons on its protest camp which resulted in injuries to seven of its members and the death of a bystander. “We appeal to the LaborCom to inquire into the culpability of Philippine Airlines (PAL) in the attack in the interest of formulating policy reforms to protect workers right to peaceably assemble. Despite its vehement denials, PAL is the only party with a vested interest in having the campout dismantled,” asserted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa.

Congress just resumed its session yesterday and was in recess when the attack on the PALEA campout occurred last October 29. In its last hearing on the PAL-PALEA labor dispute, the LaborCom issued a summons to PAL owner Lucio Tan to attend and answer questions. Malacanang also ordered the Department of Labor and Employment to probe attack on the protest camp.

“In pursuit of its continuing investigation of the PAL-PALEA dispute, the LaborCom should look into the character of the service providers Sky Logistics and Sky Kitchen. PAL’s insistence on ingress and egress rights at the In-Flight Center (IFC) raises legitimate questions that these supposed independent companies are actually dummy agencies engaged in illegal labor-only contracting. PAL should have no more need for the IFC since it announced that it has closed down and outsourced the airport services, call center reservations and catering departments. Unless it is allowing Sky Logistics and Sky Kitchen use of the facilities of the IFC as PALEA has initially documented,” Rivera expounded.

PALEA is calling on the LaborCom to recommended reforms in Labor Code such as an anti-scab law and restriction on the free ingress and egress of strike-bound companies. “Violence inevitably breaks out when capitalists insists on using its facilities and employing scabs amidst strikes and disputes,” Rivera added.

He insisted that “PAL is trying to turn the tables on PALEA and crying harassment when facts point to their responsibility in the attack. The LaborCom can also ask a certain Johnny dela Cruz, one of the goons who was apprehended by PALEA members and then turned over to the police, to testify. He already made a sworn testimony to the police that they were paid to disperse the campout. Dela Cruz used the term management as the mastermind of the attack. Apparently PAL outsourced the dispersal to a goons-provider.”

PALEA has vowed to defend its protest camp in the face of continuing threats of dispersal. The union has also declared that its occupation of the IFC perimeter is a contribution to global movement against corporate greed and corruption.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Representatives from Partido ng Manggagawa-USA and Filipino-American groups BANTAY Pilipinas-Los Angeles, Alliance Philippines and Echo Park Community Coalition called on the public especially Filipino-Americans to boycott Philippine Airlines (PAL) as the groups condemned the harassment tactics of the company against members of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA). Last November 6 (US time), PAL refused to board a PALEA member and her family despite holding tickets for the Los Angeles-Manila flight because she was supposedly on “blacklist of PALEA members.”

“We condemn, in harshest terms, the violence and other harassment tactics employed by PAL against PALEA. Just last week, a gang of goons hired by PAL violently attacked the PALEA protest camp. Now, PAL issued a memo unjustly rescinding the earned travel benefits of these employees. Clearly all of these are meant to harass protesting workers. We call on the public to continue supporting the struggle of PALEA for decent jobs,” asserted Ian Seruelo, PM’s liaison officer in the US.

Members of the Fil-Am groups accompanied PALEA member Belle Savellano to the Los Angeles airport last Sunday as she and her family tried but was refused to be boarded on a flight back to the Philippines. “We need to go back to the Philippines since my husband has to go back to work on November 8 and my children also starts school on the same day. My family is suffering because of what PAL is doing,” she said of the urgency of her case.

Savellano, a PALEA member who worked for PAL for more than 28 years, is one of some 2,400 employees locked out after their protest last September 27. Savellano and family flew to the US on October 19 to visit their relatives in San Diego using her travel benefit that was approved before the lock out. On October 23, PAL issued a memo that renders Savellano’s return ticket useless.

“PAL’s action is shameless. Not only is it engaged in violating the rights of these workers to collective bargaining and decent employment but now it is even engaged in tactics intended to trample upon the freedom of these workers to be heard and their fundamental right to express their legitimate grievances. We appeal to everyone especially to our Filipino brothers and sisters to boycott PAL!” added Jerry Esguerra of BANTAY Pilipinas-LA.

“We are here today to support Belle from this obvious effort to bully her and her family. Allowing Belle and family to fly to the US last October 19 using her travel benefits and then disallowing them to use the same tickets to return to the Philippines is plain sabotage and harassment. In the very first place, PALEA employees are deserving of these benefit as they already worked for and earned these benefits,” said Art Garcia of Alliance Philippines.

The Fil-Am groups vowed to increase its efforts to campaign for the boycott of PAL until the flag carrier has heeded the demands of PALEA for the return to their regular jobs. They believe that the fight against corporate greed is exemplified in the struggle of PALEA. They jointly declared that “The oppression of PALEA is a reflection of the plight of ordinary workers all over the world. We have to fight back as we are all PALEAns!”

Friday, November 4, 2011

We welcome Malacanang's assurance on the security of our protest camp but PALEA demands protection of its members job security. We challenge the government to make good on this promise because there is renewed threat on the campout since PAL has been asked to vacate its makeshift catering operations at the Nichols hangar. PAL will not stop attempting to disperse PALEA's protest camp at the In-Flight Center since its supposed service providers are illegal labor-only contractors which do not have its own facility.

We appreciate the government's rebuff of PAL and employers organizations' claims of harassment by PALEA but we call for reforms in the administration's policy on contractualization. PNoy may have heeded the voice of the 99% instead of the 1% this time but his hands-off policy on the PAL dispute contrasts with the Australian government's swift action on the Qantas lockout.

The Lakbay-Hustisya of the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) garnered support from workers and students on the last leg of the three-day protest. It then ended in a big rally at the PALEA campout in MIA Road by late afternoon.

“We appreciate the warm support that we got from fellow workers, students and kababayans who we met in the three-day Lakbay-Hustisya. While Philippine Airlines asked for and got the assistance of employers organization, PALEA appealed to and received the solidarity of ordinary Filipinos. PAL is supported by the 1% but the 99% is in solidarity with PALEA,” asserted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).

The march was met this morning at UST in Manila by various workers groups under the Koalisyon Kontra Koalisyon (KONTRA). Later in the afternoon, volunteers from the College of St. Benilde-La Salle welcomed the Lakbay-Hustisya and distributed water to the marchers as it passed Taft Ave.

From UST, the Lakbay-Hustisya marchers and the KONTRA labor contingent marched to Mendiola for a noontime rally. KONTRA is calling on the government to intervene in the labor dispute so the retrenched PALEA members can return to their regular jobs.

Renato Magtubo, PM chair, lambasted Malacanang’s announcement that they will keep a hands-off policy in the labor row. “While PNoy prefers to turn a blind eye to the escalating dispute, workers are getting injured and killed with the two dispersal attempts on the PALEA protest camp. While the Labor Department supposedly conducts an investigation, PAL continues to harass the campout by purposely putting rotting on the adjacent walls and gates aside from blaring loud noise. Contrast the inaction of the government to the PAL labor row with the Australian government’s rapid intervention in the Qantas lockout,” he explained.

PALEA is appealing for support from students as the second semester opens in the coming days. Yesterday, a forum on PALEA was held at the Holy Trinity Parish attended by some 500 high school students including teachers, parents, lay and community leaders. Several student organizations already launched a “Don’t fly PAL during the sembreak” campaign last October in solidarity with PALEA.

After the College of St. Benilde “salubong,” the Lakbay-Hustisya proceeded to the PNBBuilding in Macapagal Ave. where PAL holds its administrative offices. PAL employees on their 3:00 pm break participated in short program at the PNB driveway. At 5:00 pm, another “salubong”’ was staged as PALEA members in the campout met the Lakbay-Hustisya marchers in a big rally. The rally culminated in a 6:00 pm mass at MIA Road.

We express our solidarity with the Oakland general strike on November 2 especially the blockade of the Port of Oakland. The general strike and port blockade will reveal the truth that the 99% creates the wealth that the 1% now monopolizes. Such forms of mass actions will also show the way forward for the occupy protest movement now surging in the US and other countries.

We likewise salute the Occupy Oakland protesters who bravely faced violent eviction last October 25 even as we condemn the police for their brutal attack.

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA), the union of the ground staff of Philippine Airlines, and Partido ng Manggagawa (Labor Party-Philippines), the independent party of the working class in the Philippines, stand shoulder to shoulder with the Occupy Oakland protesters. We too struggle against corporate greed and capitalist globalization with its destructive impact on the workers and the youth. Truly the movement against corporate greed and capitalist globalization is international in scope.

More than a thousand PALEA members are presently occupying areas outside the international airports of Manila and Cebu, the two biggest cities in the Philippines, for a month now since the company locked out and terminated some 2,400 employees. The layoffs are part of an outsourcing scheme that aimed to downgrade us into contract workers which we have been fighting against for the last two years.

Two weeks ago a court sheriff accompanied by hired goons of the company attempted to disperse the picketline in Manila. The resistance of PALEA members forced them to retreat. And then last Saturday, scores of hired goons launched a daybreak attack on PALEA’s occupation camp while many, including women and children, were still asleep. Half of the campout was destroyed and several protesters were hurt but the dispersal attempt masterminding by the company was repelled. In less than a day the occupation camp was wholly rebuilt.

We have vowed to defend our occupation. PALEA’s struggle is inspired by the Occupy Wall Street and Occupy Oakland protests and our fight is part of the global movement against corporate greed and capitalist globalization.

On November 2, PALEA and its supporters started a three-day “long march” around several cities to bring the campaign against corporate greed and capitalist globalization to the working class communities and areas. The Oakland general strike and port blockade will be an inspiration to our “long march” protest.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

On the second day of its Lakbay-Hustisya, the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) and labor groups Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) and Alliance of Progressive Labor joined forces in a picket at one of Lucio Tan’s residences. Hundreds of protesters marched from QuiapoChurch where they spent the night to Tan’s house at the back of Sto. DominoChurch in Quezon City where they had a “tanghaliang tuyo” or boodle lunch to illustrate the contrast between the life of retrenched workers and the second richest Filipino.

“The 99% came on foot to a mansion of the 99% to symbolize the wide gap between the rich and poor. Philippine Airlines earned P3 billion in net income last year but terminated 2,400 workers as part of a scheme to bust PALEA and increase profit,” asserted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair.

Meanwhile PALEA slammed Sky Kitchen and Sky Logistics as illegal labor only contractors. “These supposed independent service providers cannot operate without using PAL’s facilities such as the In-Flight Center (IFC). This has been exposed by PAL’s failed attempts to disperse the protest camp and its desperate plea for help from employers’ organizations. PAL itself has admitted in tweeter messages that it served lunch boxes on its flights since Sky Kitchen and Sky Logistics are unable to use the IFC,” Rivera explained.

He added that “In contrast to PAL’s call for help from fellow capitalists, PALEA is seeking support from ordinary workers and the people. This is a battle between the 1% and the 99%, between corporate greed and human need.”

After the boodle lunch at Tan’s house, the Lakbay-Hustisya proceeded to the office of the National Labor Relations Commission where PALEA has a pending appeal on its complaint against PAL’s refusal to bargain. Later the marchers went to Welcome Rotonda by 5:00 p.m. for a short program to broadcast its advocacy against labor contractualization and corporate greed.

The protesters then marched on to the Holy Trinity Parish in Balic Balic, Manila where they celebrated a mass with Fr. Eric Adoviso and then spent the night. Tomorrow, the last day of the Lakbay-Hustisya, PALEA together with a coalition of labor groups will have a rally at Mendiola.

Labor groups plan to lambast the government’s inaction on the PAL labor row even as its turns violent with the recent attack on the campout which saw seven PALEA members hurt and a bystander killed. “There must be decisive intervention from the government instead of feel-good statements and an inutile investigation. Contrast the Aquino administration’s inaction to the Australian government’s rapid intervention in the Qantas dispute’’ insisted Renato Magtubo, PM chair.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

The Philippine Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) and their supporters have embarked on a three-day “Lakbay-Hustisya” (walk for justice) beginning today as Philippine Airlines (PAL) intensifies its media campaign to hide its culpability for the violent daybreak attack by its hired goons on PALEA’s protest camp last Saturday which left one bystander dead and eight protesters injured.

“Since the Saturday attack PAL had been inventing stories that serve as smokescreen to its bungled attempt to break our protest camp.And when nobody bought the storyline that PALEA orchestrated the attack against itself, the PAL management called on business groups to join the fray and support its declaration of class war against PALEA and the entire labor movement which are all opposed to contractualization policy,” stated PALEA president Gerry Rivera.

Rivera, who is also the vice president of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM), said the “Lakbay-Hustisya” is PALEA’s own way of generating support from the public in winning back their regular jobs. “This is indeed a class war and under this condition workers have no recourse but to fight back,” added Rivera.

According to Ginalyn Licayan, head of PALEA’s Women Committee and in charge of the preparations for the ‘Lakbay-Hustisya’, another objective of their three-day journey is to seek out justice from what they suffered at the hands of PAL and government officials.

From their protest camp along MIA Road, PALEA members begin walking around 9:00 AM to their first destination, the Pasay City Regional Trial Court where PAL’s petition for PALEA to vacate the protest camp is still pending.At the nearby Pasay City Jail, a certain Johnny de la Cruz, a hired goon whom they have apprehended last Saturday, is facing criminal charges for participating in that violent attack on PALEA’s protest camp.

From Pasay RTC, the group proceeded to the PAL offices at the nearby PNBBuilding for an indignation rally against the company’s relentless attack against its workers.PAL, the union said, “is no more the country’s pride but the carrier of the worst kind of corporate greed and injustice.”

After PAL, the protesters walked towards MalateChurch where they were served free lunch by parish officials.The Church, organized labor and human rights groups shared the view that once Lucio Tan succeeds with its outsourcing/contractualization scheme, everybody’s job will be next.

From MalateChurch, the protesters proceeded to the Court of Appeals where PALEAs petition for certiorari against PAL’s outsourcing plan is pending.PALEA likewise held a short program at the nearby PAL ticketing office along
UN Avenue
before proceeding to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to denounce labor officials for approving Lucio Tan’s deplorable outsourcing plan.

After DOLE, PALEA was offered free dinner and overnight stay at the Benedict Hall of Quiapo Church.In the morning of November 3, PALEA will march to Welcome Rotonda and then to Lucio Tan’s compound at Biak na Bato in Quezon City.A ‘boodle lunch’ between PALEA and its supporters will be held in front of Lucio Tan’s residence to show the contrast between corporate greed and the injustice being suffered by his workers.

From Lucio Tan’s residence, PALEA members will proceed to the nearby National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) where they have appealed the case against PAL’s refusal to bargain.From NLRC they will march back to Welcome Rotonda, and then to the Holy Trinity Church for a dinner and overnight stay.

In the morning of November 4, they will be joined by other labor groups in a march towards Mendiola.At Mendiola, the protesters will be asking President Aquino to reverse its decision of PAL’s outsourcing plan and cause the reinstatement with full rights of the 2,600 employees dismissed and locked out by PAL since October 1, 2011.

The Partido ng Manggagawa (PM) slammed the call of Philippine Airlines (PAL) for support from employers’ organizations as “an unholy alliance of the 1% vs. the 99%.” Meanwhile the Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) announced that it is readying its own charges against those responsible for the daybreak attack on its protest camp last Saturday which resulted in injuries to seven of its members and the death of a bystander.

“PAL’s Halloween appeal for help is a call for the forces of darkness to unite against the forces of good. In tagging PALEA’s protest camp as harassment, PAL wants to subvert labor rights in favor of property rights. Lucio Tan wants a return to the Marcos dictatorship when cronies ruled with impunity over the workers and the people. In contrast to PAL, PALEA is asking for support from workers and the people—the 99%—through a Lakbay-Hustisya,” asserted Renato Magtubo, chair of Partido ng Manggagawa (PM).

PALEA has already filed a criminal compliant against a certain Johnny dela Cruz, one the alleged hired goons who was apprehended during the attack. PALEA is now consulting with its lawyers on another case against the purported mastermind of the attack. Dela Cruz had signed a sworn statement to the police that he was paid together with others to disperse PALEA’s campout.

Around 500 PALEA and PM members proceeded this morning to the Pasay city jail where dela Cruz is detained and the offices of the Regional Trial Court as it begins the three-day Lakbay-Hustisya. The long march around Metro Manila aims to bring the advocacy against contractualization to the grassroots level. The “Lakbay-Hustisya” will pass by parishes and communities in Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Paranaque and Pasay as part of PALEA’s campaign to garner the support of ordinary Filipinos in the fight for regular jobs.

Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and PM vice chair added that “What is behind PAL’s insistence on its property rights over the In-Flight Center? Why does PAL want to operate the IFC when it has declared that the airport services, call center reservations and catering departments have been closed? If Sky Kitchen and Sky Logistics need the IFC then these are illegal labor-only contractors not independent service providers.”

Meanwhile PM challenged the government for “decisive action instead of comforting words” in the wake of its call for sobriety. “Workers are getting killed and hurt while PNoy turns a blind eye to the escalating violence foisted on PALEA. Contrast this administration’s inaction to the Australian government’s swift intervention in the Qantas lockout,” Magtubo insisted.

Today the Lakbay-Hustisya marchers will also go to PAL’s offices at the PNBBuilding in
Macapagal Ave., MalateChurch, PAL ticketing office in Faura, the Court of Appeals, the Department of Labor and Employment and then QuiapoChurch where they will spend the night.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Philippine Airlines Employees’ Association (PALEA) declared that they are readying their own charges against those responsible for the daybreak attack on its protest camp even as it dismissed a Philippine Airlines (PAL) announcement that it will file complaints against union members. “PAL is trying to divert attention from its culpability in the violent daybreak attack on the PALEA protest camp which led to the death of one bystander and injuries to seven of our members. Apparently PAL’s best defense is offense,” insisted Gerry Rivera, PALEA president and vice chair of Partido ng Manggagawa.

A criminal complaint had already been filed against a certain Johnny dela Cruz, one the alleged hired goons who was apprehended by PALEA members during the attack. PALEA is now consulting with its lawyers on another case against the purported mastermind of the attack. Dela Cruz had signed a sworn statement to the police that he was paid together with others to dismantle PALEA’s campout.

PALEA also reacted to Malacanang’s call for sobriety. “It is not comforting words but swift action that will resolve the labor row. Workers are getting killed and hurt while PNoy turns a blind eye to the escalating violence foisted on PALEA. Contrast this administration’s inaction to the Australian government’s swift intervention in the Qantas lockout.”

News reports quoted PAL as saying that it is readying charges against people who blocked a catering truck from leaving the In-Flight Center (IFC). “It is PAL’s habit to threaten its workers in a futile effort at intimidation. They threatened administrative cases against employees for joining mass actions and they said they will file an illegal strike charge but none come of it,” Rivera added.

He added that “PAL could only invent the lamest excuse—that PALEA foisted the attack on its own campout. Unfortunately for PAL and its outsourced goons-provider, one of the attackers was caught and gave some damning admission. But the bigger question that people should ask is this: Why does PAL want the IFC to operate when it has declared that the airport services, call center reservations and catering departments have been closed? If Sky Kitchen and Sky Logistics need the IFC then these are illegal labor-only contractors not independent service providers.”

Meanwhile PALEA members sacrificed the traditional visit to deceased family members and instead guarded the campout which has been the subject of two failed dispersal attempts. Today they lighted candles and made a makeshift coffin to symbolize the continuing protests against outsourcing and contractualization at PAL and the rest of the world.

Tomorrow PALEA will embark on a three-day “Lakbay-Hustisya” or long march around Metro Manila in order to bring its campaign against contractualization to the grassroots level. The “Lakbay-Hustisya” will pass by parishes and communities in Manila, Quezon City, Makati, Paranaque and Pasay as part of PALEA’s aim to garner the support of ordinary Filipinos in the fight for regular jobs.

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Our Vision

Our dream is a world that gives due importance to the role of the working class and respects the dignity of labor. A social order where the working men and women of the world live together in peace, harmony and progress.Our aspirations lie in the emancipation of labor. A government that is truly of the workers, by the workers and for the workers.

Our hopes rest in a future where social progress thrives not for the benefit of a few people but for the development and richness of the entire humankind. A society that is free from the chains of wage slavery and where oppression does not exist.

Our Mission

Forge the unity of the workers into an independent working class party to organize them as a potent political force in social transformation towards the advancement and protection of labor from the scourge of globalization, establishment of a genuine workers’ government and the emancipation of the working class from capitalist exploitation and wage slavery.

Workers Unite!

The working class is the most important class in society. But, labor will only be a force to reckon with at a time when labor assumes the responsibility of leading the struggle to a decent living - free from exploitation of the propertied elite.

The time has come to rally every underprivileged sector of the society, to take the bull by the head and confront the issues of today. The working class must take an active role in every political exercise presented. The backbone of the independent party must be comprised of the working class with the other marginalized sectors in solidarity.

We must organize politically.

This is our own challenge and we must vow not to shirk from it.

Our future is in our hands, in our unity, in our struggle, in our party.